Slough jets 6 Paisley Pirates 3
Current league champions, and recent qualifiers for the Benson & Hedges Plate final, Slough Jets proved too strong for Pirates in this British National League clash. The home side were in control from the start and the shots on goal total of 47 on. DaveTrofimenkoff compares with a scant 13 on Adam White reflects this. Pirates, despite being heavily outshot, had kept it to within one goal until the third session but once again couldn't follow through in the final session.
Jets opened the scoring at 3.08 with a scrappy Nick Cross goal after a flurry of activity around Trofimenkoffs net only for Pirates to reply at 5.28 when James Clark, assisted by Ian Simpson and Laurie Dunbar, lashed one past White. Jets were 2-1 in front at 7.12 when Joe Stefan converted a half chance from right in front as Pirates struggled to clear their lines, however, Pirates third line once more levelled the game in the IIth minute when Ian Simpson was credited with the goal after an almighty scramble in front of Jets goal saw the puck sneak home.
The next 25 minutes remained goalless as Pirates contained the Jets but Stefan's second sent the home team in 3-2 up at the second break when he re-directed a soft Nick Cross shot past Trofimenkoff. Two goals in as many minutes, early in the third, ended any faint hopes Pirates had of taking something from the game as Stefan intercepted a weak clearance to claim his hat trick goal before Nick Cross capped his man of the match award with his second of proceedings to move the score to 5-2.
Eight of the games 14 penalty minutes were assessed at 50.29 when Warren Rost tripped Clark who responded by slashing the ex-Ayr man before punches were traded which earned them both a further two minutes for roughing.
A brief glimmer of hope for the Pirates at 54.44 when a Chris Jamieson shot flashed past White to bring Pirates to within two but a deflected Danny Farren shot less than two minutes later put Jets in an unassailable position and the two points stayed in Berkshire.